Sunny in London

A behind the scenes guide to London's food, life and culture

Oak Caffe Whetstone Review

Every weekend morning when I pass Oak Caffe in Whetstone it’s buzzing. Tables are full of people and the environment looks inviting.

For a closer look inside on a regular basis, I started following their Instagram account months ago. They consistently post vibrant, fun images and the food looks delicious. Mr Sunny and I had Oak Caffe on our list to try for a while. However with numerous holidays planned and weekends being short, it took a lot longer than we intended.

Finally, on a beautiful sunny September Saturday we set our morning alarm and made our best effort to get to Oak Caffe in Whetstone early.

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Oak Caffe Whetstone Review- The Atmosphere

Arriving at 10am, we were lucky to get a table. Nearly all were full and we noticed a large one in the back was reserved. Several staff members whizzed around serving fantastic looking breakfast food and coffees in giant, colourful cups.

Quickly, someone greeted us, got us seated and handed us menus. As Mr Sunny and I poured over the menu, we felt that staff were doing their best to manage a crowded caffe. Glancing around, I observed people looking happy with their meals and taking time to relax at their table in a cheery environment with friends and family.

Throughout our time at Oak Caffe the tables that turned over were quickly cleaned and immediately filled with more eager patrons. Staff hustled to keep everyone fed and moving.

Oak Caffe Whetstone Review- The Food

While the menu is simple, there are many items I still want to try after this experience. If you follow me on Instagram, you know that every time we leave for holiday I eat Eggs Benedict at the airport before an AM flight. It’s something I can’t resist on a breakfast menu when I am not obligated to each something specific for the purpose of a review. Choosing my old faithful poached eggs, slices of ham and hollandaise sauce made sense for my first visit to Oak Caffe in Whetstone.

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However, Mr Sunny chose something a bit more uncharacteristic of his traditional breakfast dish. For regular blog readers, you might remember Mr Sunny sharing his advice on how to make a traditional English breakfast. That’s pretty much what he gets nearly every time we have a chance to relax and focus on food in the morning.

Instead, he ordered Oak Caffe’s Cafe Breakfast. This dish includes smoked salmon, scrambled egg, avocado and granary toast.

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We both found our food very pleasing. Our only feedback is we felt it could have been served a little warmer. But, with the amount of people packed in to Oak Caffe that morning, we felt the staff did everything they could to keep things hot and moving.

I did ask to have a chocolate muffin that was sitting on the counter while waiting for my Eggs Benedict. I know the two aren’t necessarily great compliments, but I couldn’t resist them teasing me while I waited for my real breakfast.

The muffin was moist and rich with chocolate. I absolutely loved it. Our coffees were delicious too.

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Oak Caffe Whetstone- The Value

Compared to what we pay in Central London for breakfast, we feel Oak Caffe is really reasonable. So, their prices reflect what you would expect for a nice atmosphere and tasty food from a menu with a good selection of breakfast options in North London.

Final Thoughts- See You Soon

We will definitely return to Oak Caffe in Whetstone as soon as we have a morning off together and aren’t off to Central London for a different review or blog activity. I enjoyed the Eggs Benedict so much it will be tough not to order it again.

Sunny friends, do you find that you always choose the same food item on a menu? Or are you more adventurous when you visit somewhere for the first time?

Indian Afternoon Tea Review- Cinnamon Bazaar Covent Garden

Stealing from Forest Gump, I feel like a blog email inbox is like a box of chocolates- you never know what you’re gonna get. ‘Influencer’ opportunities can be amazing and sometimes you wonder what the PR was thinking when he or she chose you and hit ‘send.’ Shortly before Afternoon Tea week, I received the press release for Cinnamon Bazaar’s launch of their Indian Afternoon Tea. My heart fluttered when I saw the headline.

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‘Chef Vivek and Bake Off star Tamal Ray launch modern Indian Afternoon Tea’

My excitement about this invitation ignited for two reasons. It was perfect! Just days before- a viewer left a comment on the Sunny News YouTube channel requesting more coverage of Indian food in London.

And, among the sea of afternoon teas in London, this seemed to offer a different spin. The press release indicated it would ‘shake up the traditional afternoon tea with an injection of fire and spice’. So I had to know immediately if it truly would…

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – History

Actually, the chefs who collaborated on Cinnamon Bazaar’s Indian Afternoon Tea also caught my attention. Chef Vivek Singh has a restaurant empire spanning two decades. He created the Cinnamon Collective portfolio, with which anyone on London’s restaurant scene is familiar. It includes: The Cinnamon Club, The Cinnamon Kitchen and of course- Cinnamon Bazaar. He is known as a pioneer of the modern Indian cuisine movement in London.

Next, Tamal Ray was a finalist in the 2015 series of The Great British Bake Off. Not only does he contribute to a monthly food column in The Guardian, but also he has a career as an NHS doctor.

Do you see why this combo offers the perfect medicine to inject some much needed spice in to the tired themed afternoon tea scene in London? 😉

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Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – Company

While the focus is the food at afternoon tea, it can be ruined by bad company. After countless afternoon teas, it seems two hours is the standard amount of minimum time in London for the experience. Therefore, one must carefully select a guest who offers thoughtful commentary on the food as well as great conversation.

A catch up with Catherine of LuxLife blog was long overdue. And she fits the description above perfectly!

We met back in 2014 when Sunny in London was less than a year old. I have followed her move to Australia and back, as well as all her fantastic travel adventures around the world. Her honest and hilarious Instastories share the challenges of daily life balanced with glamorous travel. I always look forward to seeing what she posts.

Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea – Gastronomy

So, now for the juicy part! From the list of Indian spiced teas, I chose the White Peony. While it was nice, the colourful teapots in which the tea is served add a wonderful touch to the experience.

In fact, when I walked in to Cinnamon Bazaar from Maiden Lane in Covent Garden, I felt like I had entered Oz. The colourful decor of the restaurant adds even more fun flavour to this afternoon tea in London.

Along with our tea, we received the Chaat. This included:

  • Papadi Chaat- crisp wheat, tangy tamarind, yoghurt and chickpea vermicelli
  • Puchka/Pani Puri- semolina shell with tangy sweet and sour water
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Next, our stand arrived with the Nibbles and Sweets.

  • Fish Finger Sandwich with tomato chutney
  • Chicken Katti Roll-in pastry with mustard and paper
  • Macaron- macaron with cinnamon cream
  • Mishti Doi- baked/steamed yoghurt with mango curd (gluten free)
  • Pistachio Cake- with rosewater marshmallow
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Cinnamon Bazaar Indian Afternoon Tea- Final Thoughts

In summary, this afternoon tea is quite good. I generally don’t prefer food that is very spicy and wasn’t too overwhelmed by the items that featured the promised ‘injection of fire’. Some people might be. I’m guessing that if you enjoy Indian food, then you know what to anticipate for flavour and will agree that everything meets expectations.

I enjoyed every item. However there is no dodging around the issue that the bread for the sandwiches was a bit stale. That’s the only suggestion I have for this afternoon tea.

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My favourite item was the Sweets. That shouldn’t be a surprise because if you enjoy afternoon tea, it’s likely because you have a sweet spot for sugar. But, what is surprising is I have never really associated the Indian culinary experience with a strength in desserts. I only starting eating Indian food when I moved to London, so this could be from lack of experience.

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Can you add your thoughts on this in the comments? What popular Indian desserts have you enjoyed?

I really didn’t want my little dish of Mishti Doi to end. It was so delicious!

The final ‘Wow’ of the experience happened when Catherine and I left. As we walked to our next destinations, she pointed out that there were actually no scones at the afternoon tea.

With so many London restaurants offering afternoon tea with champagne or Prosecco, it’s common for the actual tea to be understated and minimal in its overall appearance in the food ensemble. Yet to get away with not having the classic staple of scones and still be fab is a big two thumbs up for Cinnamon Bazaar!

If you hadn’t guessed already from the start of this Indian Afternoon Tea review, our experience was complimentary. That hasn’t affected my thoughts. The service was excellent too. I look forward to adding Cinnamon Bazaar to my next revision of the Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies.

Want a Food Freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

Best Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl London

If you’re a Londoner, you might be quick to call ‘click bait’ on a pub crawl on King’s Road. Because there are hardly any pubs actually on the King’s Road. It’s actually known for being one of the most popular streets for shopping in London. So, in order to get my London born husband (who is a self-proclaimed pub expert) out for a day in Chelsea with me, I put him in charge of a King’s Road Pub Crawl that included a side of shopping.

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Initially this wasn’t too much of a challenge for him because he spent part of his childhood living in Chelsea. He and his family had a few local favourites that he wanted to visit. However, some of them haven’t stood the test of time. And some have morphed through the times in to a different experience.

Nonetheless, Mr Sunny put together a list of pubs that will impress anyone visiting London as well as has local knowledge of the pubs in Chelsea. Let’s take a look, Sunny friends.

Pubs in Chelsea- King’s Road Pub Crawl

Chelsea Potter is one of the few pubs on King’s Road. If you subscribe to the Sunny News email, you know that Mr Sunny and I love the happy hour deals at Greene King pubs. In each newsletter, Mr Sunny recommends a pub of the week. Quite a few have been from this franchise because who doesn’t love 2 for 1 Prosecco and beer?

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Pubs in Chelsea- Around the Corner

The Cross Keys- Mr Sunny was eager to see The Cross Keys. This pub should not to be confused with the ‘classic old boozer’ pub in Covent Garden on Endell Street with the iconic floral front. The Cross Keys in Chelsea is discreet and tucked away on a residential street. In fact, this is the description of many of our choices in the Best Pubs in Chelsea Pub Crawl.

Location: 119 Kings Road, Chelsea SW 3 4PL

What Mr Sunny likes: It’s near King’s Road and the Embankment, so it’s a great escape while the ‘Mrs is shopping’. The Sunday Lunch looks good and seems to be frequented by mostly locals. That’s always a good sign! Another good sign is the list of celebrities who drank at The Cross Keys.

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The Phene: We enjoyed drinks here. Mr Sunny feels it is still a local’s pub but is definitely more of a gastropub.

Location: 9 Phene Street, Chelsea, SW3 5NY

What Mr Sunny likes: The beer garden is fabulous and the Sunday lunch looks delicious. We advise you to arrive early for this food experience because it was quite packed when we stopped by. Or better yet, you should book a table in advance.

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Cooper’s Arms- This pub does a great job of combining contemporary and traditional design. Their website suggests they have a welcoming atmosphere, so take a look at these shots and see if you agree. I love pubs that have comfortable furniture and a vibrant colour scheme.

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Location: 87 Flood Street, Chelsea SW3 5TB

What Mr Sunny likes: The terrace is good for having a quick smoke or vape and the menu features a traditional Sunday lunch.

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The Surprise: This was at the top of Mr Sunny’s list because it was his dad and mum’s local when he was a child. He remembers when locals clearly had one side of The Surprise pub, and the other side was devoted to the public.

Location: 6 Christchurch Terrace, Chelsea SW3 4AJ

What Mr Sunny likes: He says he is a bit disappointed that over the years it has made such a change to a gastropub. However, since it’s a Young’s Pub, we know the menu and food are top notch too.

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Phoenix- Mr Sunny feels this Geronimo Inn pub off of the King’s Road is more of a traditional London pub. He thinks they offer good beer, fine ales and lager.

Location: 23 Smith Street, Chelsea SW3 4EE

What Mr Sunny likes: While we note the above mentioned strengths, this pub represents nostalgia for Mr Sunny too. He would love to know if anyone remembers the curry house that previously was next to this pub. It was one of his family’s favourites. His parents would enjoy drinks in the pub and the curry house owner would signal them when their take away order was ready.

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The Antelope: Of all the pubs we visited on the Sunday we did the Chelsea Pub Crawl, this was Mr Sunny’s favourite.

Location: Eaton Terrace, Belgravia SW11W 8EZ

What Mr Sunny likes: We know that it’s a tad bit on the edge of Chelsea, but it’s well worth a visit. As a traditional Fuller’s pub, The Antelope has London Pride. This is Mr Sunny’s dad’s daily beer choice.

He loved seeing a nice horseshoe shaped bar and enjoyed seeing a bar full of locals watching live sports.

Pubs in Chelsea- Out of Range

Our final stop was The Botanist, which is listed in The Good Pub Guide. While it suited me just fine, Mr Sunny decided to skip having a drink here because it is quite posh. Londoners won’t be surprised to hear that Mr Sunny said it was full of ‘Sloane Rangers.’

Location: 7 Sloane Square, London SW1W 8EE

What Mr Sunny likes: ‘This is a great place to use to loo before you leave Chelsea’

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Pubs in Chelsea- Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny has an excellent memory, when it comes to recalling pub locations and what their unique selling points are. However, he also uses Good Pub Guide to keep the pulse on what’s happening in the London pub scene. As you can see, through time pubs change names, ownership and style. Having a book or app readily available if you live in London and were born here is always a good idea.

If you’re visiting London and need help, it’s a great idea!

We hope you enjoyed this Best Pubs in Chelsea pub crawl. If you’d like regular recommendations from Mr Sunny, don’t forget email subscribers regularly receive his pub suggestions!

What are your favourite pubs in London? Have they changed through the years? Do you still visit them when you’re in the neighbourhood?

My Old Dutch Pancakes in Holborn Review

My morning didn’t begin the way I planned. Luckily, this summer I put together a wish list of breakfast places in London so all was resolved at My Old Dutch pancakes in Holborn.

Originally, the day’s itinerary involved leaving the house at 7.15am with Mr Sunny. I was going to ride to work with him and then make my way to Covent Garden. However when the alarm went off at 6am, that great plan didn’t sound so enticing. Sleeping in longer seemed so much smarter.

I’ve been on a serious breakfast kick this summer and wanted to try to little porridge place that’s been open for a few years. I had read it is quite popular and it’s best to get there really early. By the time I arrived, every table was full except a seat at the bar. After 15 minutes of waiting and not even receiving a menu, I decided porridge wasn’t worth the hassle and hit somewhere I knew was going to be fab.

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I’ve walked by My Old Dutch in Holborn many times in the afternoon and evening. You can’t miss the bright orange exterior. Believe it or not, I actually had to pull down the orange saturation in the image above when I was editing the pictures!

My Old Dutch pancakes has other locations in Chelsea and Kensington too. There is always plenty of people inside, so that’s why I had always been curious about what the food is like.

Luckily when I arrive there were available tables by the window and they were able to seat me at one. I chose the window because it was a beautiful, sunny day in London.

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Also, if all went as anticipated, I was going to write a My Old Dutch Pancakes review on the blog and wanted great lighting for the food photos.

First on the agenda was getting myself a large latte.

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My Old Dutch Pancakes Review: The Food

The menu is quite big and divided in to many different sections. My a la Carte, My Butterscotch, My Poffertjes, etc. I was most excited to see that many items are available gluten free. Well, not really. I wish I didn’t have to eaten gluten free. Regular stuff is always better in my opinion. However, since this was going to be more indulgent than my original porridge plan, I wanted to keep breakfast somewhat sensible.

Honestly, it was really bugging me that Mr Sunny was at work and couldn’t join me. There is so much food on the menu I want to try. It would have been nice to have my partner in crime there to do some sampling with me.

I decided to play most popular and choose the My Old Dutch. This item is their signature dish. I don’t know if this photo captures the true enormity of what hits the table when you order My Old Dutch.

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It’s on the Classic Savoury Pancakes menu. It features smoked bacon, chicken, ham, red and yellow sweet peppers, mushrooms, sweet corn and cheese.

I might be on a sweet corn kick too, if you think about what I ordered at our Chelsea brunch last week.

I did my best to finish it, but My Old Dutch won round one. I really enjoyed it, although some of the edges were a bit toastier than I would have liked.

My Old Dutch Pancakes Review Holborn- The Service

When you write reviews that are organised through PR companies you nearly always get stellar service. You hope that everyone’s experience at a restaurant is the same as yours. However, when you are a paying patron you might be better positioned to get a clearer picture of what a restaurant offers.

The menu is impressive at My Old Dutch pancakes and my service was equally as great. Everyone I encountered was knowledgable about the menu and eager to help me make the best choice.

They also gave me a loyalty card for my next visit. I bet that porridge place doesn’t do that! 🙂

I am looking forward to taking Mr Sunny to a My Old Dutch location the next time we are both off work together and will certainly include this primarily pancakes restaurant in the next revision of my Best London Restaurant Guide for Foodies.

Want a food freebie in London?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

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Top Food Travel Destinations for 2020

Where should you go for food travel in 2020? If you’ve been following me on Instagram, you know that in the past few months I have been to the top two food travel destinations in the world.

At the end of July you also saw on my social media that I spent two days at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London. Through my research and writing as a London food blogger, trips I have taken and exhibitions I have attended, I can make some fairly strong predictions for future food travel.

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The two panel discussions to which I was most looking forward at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were the Culinary Trends and Food Hotspots.

To learn about the healthy food trends coming up in 2020, you can watch the Sunny News YouTube video below. I also included on the blog the ‘non-healthy’ information for Top Food Trends 2020.

But, let’s rewind a bit more.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- World Travel Market

For several years I have attended the Blogger Speed Networking event at World Travel Market. Below is my stand from 2015. At the most recent exhibition, I categorised myself as a food travel blogger.

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In the video I share two regions that were keen to talk to all food bloggers about promoting their destination. One I don’t mention is Serbia.

Mr Sunny, a former sound engineer and war cameraman for NBC News, was quite shocked when I returned home that do to say they were inquiring about organising press trips to promote food.

Cuisine in Serbia mixes Byzantine-Greek, Mediterranean, Turkish-Oriental and the cuisine of the Austro-Hungairan Empire. It also has Slavic influences. Perhaps since unlike the USA, Serbia bans production and import of GMO’s it will be able to make a big leap for being a world recognised cuisine?

In the past at WTM I have attended press conferences on increasing travel to Croatia. Now, several years later we are reading about the problems of overtourism in Croatia.

So, do you think this recent campaign Serbia to attract influencers to promote their cuisine will create the same buzz and attraction?

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- National Geographic Food Festival

Again, in the video I indicate some hot topics at the panel discussion. But, what I don’t include is one panel member’s indication that Ireland will achieve higher status for its cuisine.

If you research articles published by National Geographic, you will see Ireland as a top listing. They cite its craft beer and cider development, as well as fresh seafood. It also offers highly regional options.

If you are a food traveller, you know the top consideration in people’s profile when they travel is authenticity.

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One cuisine that I shrugged off when a panel member mentioned it is Mexican. Specifically, the discussion was about Baja California.

I just don’t see it happening. Growing up in Florida, I ate Mexican food regularly. There is a very high Hispanic population in the state. In many places it’s the only language spoken. So, you’re able to get amazing Mexican food right in Florida. Having been to Baja California, I don’t feel it offers anything that much different than authentically owned and operated Mexican restaurants in Florida.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- USA

In the video I mention the standard cities for American cuisine popularity. They will still thrive in 2020. However, there are two cities that I indicate are really under rated. Having lived in both, I can say it is easy to eat well in them, and they have regional dishes that are famous and often replicated poorly world wide.

One place I don’t mention is Miami. Between Cuban food, Mexican, seafood, and steakhouses frequented by celebrities, this city has a lot to offer a British traveller. You might say it’s a great way to get damn good plates from many international locations.

If you want to consider what to eat in Florida that is regional, you can watch this one too.

Or, if you visit my hometown, take my advice as a local.

Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Mr Sunny

A rising star that Mr Sunny endorses is Beirut. He regularly says it would be the one city in which he would most want to return. We eat Lebanese food as often as we can in London. Its influences are Ottoman, Armenian, Palestinian, Syrian, French and Israeli.

He also said that he agreed with me when I indicated that Israel’s wine selection at the National Geographic Traveller Food Festival were impressive.

We will both be cheering for Israel making a name for its cuisine in the future.

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Top Food Travel Destinations 2020- Final Thoughts

So, who is going to take the leap with me and vote for London for 2021?

After living here six years, I can honestly say that British cuisine is quite impressive. London’s food has come a long way since when I first lived here in the late 90’s. Steep competition (pun intended!) among themed afternoon teas makes them quite extraordinary compared to two decades ago.

Further, it seems Michelin starred restaurants and things to do in London for food are popping up everywhere.

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you travelled to any of the above places and agree? What rising stars and old favourites do you have?

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Want a London food freebie?

Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads that will guide you through trip planning, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

Food Travel Related Blog Articles and YouTube

Chicama London Review- A Chelsea Brunch Experience with Smoked Beer Ice Cream

When we saw Smoked Beer Ice Cream on the Chicama menu, the ‘where to have brunch in Chelsea debate’ ended. Immediately. How could I deny Mr Sunny this opportunity to try a beer infused food?

As a London food blogger, I get invites often to try new seasonal menus, restaurant launches and other food related events. Since we live in North London most of our foodie trips to Central London are for these experiences organised via a restaurant’s public relations representatives. While we love these, it’s also nice to put the cameras aside and just enjoy good food with Mr Sunny.

That was our intent when we visited Chicama in Chelsea for brunch recently. But, everything changed as we walked up to the restaurant.

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Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- The Ambience

Turning the corner on the King’s Road and seeing Chicama London caused quick intrigue. The concept is a neighborhood restaurant and the design is inspired by Chicama beach in Northern Peru.

We had booked a table on the terrace, but due to the high wind advisory this day we requested to eat inside the restaurant. On a beautiful, sunny day in London I can see why Chicama would be a perfect spot.

All signs for what we wanted in our Sunday brunch together fell in to place as we stepped through the entrance. Nonetheless, the interior decor filled with shell pink tiles and soft pink marble is inviting and cheery. Mr Sunny and I loved the open kitchen plan. For many reasons, this works really well for this Chelsea restaurant.

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We booked our table online for 12pm. If you’re an avid Sunny reader, you know we like to go early to avoid crowds. It wasn’t until around 1pm that the restaurant tables began filling inside and on the terrace. If you planned to arrive anytime after we did, I would suggest making sure you have booked a table in advance.

While the exterior might have a slightly feminine vibe, we felt as a couple that the location is perfect for a posh brunch date or a girly get together.

Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- Unique Selling Points

Watching the kitchen staff prepare dishes tells a lot about Chicama’s story. Chicama in Chelsea is the second restaurant from the Pachamama Restaurant Group and opened with rave reviews in 2016. They chef formed a team that is from London’s best, most sought after restaurants. It shows!

The kitchen runs smoothly, quietly and systematically. Each staff member clearly knows their responsibilities and executes them with ninja like precision. Yet, the overriding vibe is calm and meticulously organised without fuss. While the decor might send the message that you are near a Peruvian beach, the staff’s approach to the overall success of your dining experience is no where near casual.

And then there’s the Smoked Beer Ice Cream. But, you need to wait just a bit more before I melt it on the blog for you.

Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- The Food

Chicama bills itself as a ‘seafood restaurant in Chelsea with a menu inspired by the coastal food of Peru and the bold-flavours of Peruvian cuisine’.

Mr Sunny had never tried Peruvian cuisine, to his knowledge. Introducing him to this new food experience was a treat, but I am not an expert in the cuisine. With the guidance of our server, we chose several items and waited with great anticipation. We hoped the food would be as great as the ambience!

  • Popped Corn Monkfish Cheeks (ají amarillo mayo)
  • Tuna Tostada (avocado jalapeño sauce, fried leeks, lime, radish)
  • Sweetcorn Pancake (crab, ají amarillo hollandaise, pickled chilli)
  • Blackened Octopus (confit potato, sundried tomato, cauliflower)
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In summary, each dish delighted us in different ways. The Monkfish was a nice starter, but the Tuna Tostadas blew us away. We should have ordered one each, because sharing proved a bit tense.

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My Sweetcorn Pancake arrived a bit before Mr Sunny’s octopus. Rather than battle with his salivating eyes, I agreed to give him a few bites. For those who might have trouble with a strong salt taste, they might want to pass on the Sweetcorn Pancake. While this usually does not appeal to me, I loved this dish! And so did Mr Sunny.

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He agreed to share his octopus, but I didn’t have more than a bite because the Sweetcorn Pancake is surprisingly filling.

Can you tell me your thoughts on Octopus, Sunny friends? When I posted these photos on my personal Facebook account my Florida friends expressed hesitation to try it. This seafood dish does not seem very exotic to me. How do you feel?

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We keenly saved room for the Smoked Beer Ice Cream. We both felt it offers a unique flavour and unique selling point for the restaurant. The honeycomb and beer caramel dissolves beautifully upon each bite. Although, now that we’ve checked it from the bucket list, we will focus on other menu items when we return.

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Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- The Prices

When you plan a brunch in Chelsea, one of the poshest neighborhoods in London, you don’t approach it as a budget food experience. Two tiny mimosas hit around £20 and Mr Sunny’s Peruvian beers went down his throat way too fast.

We had not anticipated spending £96 for a brunch together in London on a Sunday. But, we didn’t feel that Chicama was overpriced given how fab the food and ambiance it offers.

Chicama London, a Chelsea Brunch Experience- Final Thoughts

Mr Sunny gives his first Peruvian experience two thumbs up. However, the opinion could unfairly be acquired because Chicama raises the bar so high.

We had no regrets about our brunch in Chelsea bill and look forward to returning to try Chicama’s dinner menu on another occasion.

I would love to know your brunch experiences in London. We researched quite a few of the ‘Best Places to Have Brunch in London’ articles online and found Chicama listed in many.

Have you been to Pachamama in either Marylebone or Shoreditch? What would you recommend to have in these restaurants?

And don’t forget to share your thoughts on eating Octopus!

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I will certainly add Chicama to the Restaurant Guide on it’s next update!

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Top Food Trends 2020- What You Must Know

Want to know what top food trends everyone will be talking about in 2020? The best chefs, culinary experts and food personalities united for two days at the inaugural National Geographic Traveller Food Festival in London to determine this at the end of July 2019.

As a press member, I attended cooking demonstrations, interviewed tourism board officials, met with chefs and cooking school personnel and listened to panel discussions- all about food during these two days. And it is clear there are some very big, new trends on the horizon.

Top Food Trends 2020- Health

The biggest theme for top food trends is… be healthy. This is showing its strength in many different forms. In the YouTube video I created at the food festival, I break down how we will see the healthy food trend infiltrating different areas of our lives. It also includes information about what Le Cordon Bleu, London’s top cooking school, plans to introduce that will prepare upcoming chefs for the healthier demands that we will see.

Top Food Trends 2020- Culinary Trends Panel Discussion

National Geographic Traveller Food Executive Editor Glen Mutel hosted the Culinary Trends discussion which featured four panel members. You can see them in the Healthy Food Trends video above.

Carolyn Boyd is a travel writer and editor specialising in French food and drink. She is author of Lonely Planet’s travel and recipe book France From the Source and writes regularly for National Geographic Traveller, National Geographic Traveller Food, The Times, The Guardian, The i and The Independent. Throughout the discussion she was the barometer for all food trends related to France.

Neil Coletta served as a professor of food studies at Boston University, as well as as the university’s assistant director of programs in food & wine, organising a year-round series of gastronomic lectures, demonstrations, classes and events with some of the top names in the food world. He is now the brand & product manager of food tours at Intrepid Group.

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Neil Davey has written regularly for The Guardian, Hello! and National Geographic Traveller (UK). As a broadcaster, Neil has worked for the likes of the BBC and Jazz FM.

Chef Reginald Ioos joined Le Cordon Bleu’s team of teaching cuisine chefs in 2013. He began his career at the five-star Sheraton Skyline London Heathrow Hotel. After four years, Chef Reginald moved to Brussels where he worked at the two Michelin-starred Sea Grill Restaurant and then onto the five-star Sheraton Hotel at Brussels Airport. In 2005 he returned to France where he later worked as a Private Chef to a former member of the French government.

Top Food Trends 2020- Key Ideas

Aside from the 5 key trends culinary trends related to health that the panel discussed and you can learn about in the video, there are other topics that will make headlines.

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Top Food Trends 2020- The Next Big Meat

While people have been eating goat for thousands of years, you will start to see a rise on its place on menus. Pairing with the healthy trend, goat is lean and very low in fat. Panel members indicated they felt the taste was very close to lamb.

In the spirit of eating healthy, I tried the Lotus Root Curry from Yaalu Yaalu stand, which has several locations in London. The goat curry looked very good. However, I just wasn’t ready to take the plunge.

How about you, Sunny friends? Have you eaten goat either to be healthy or just because you thought it sounded good? Am I the only one who is a little hesitant?

Top Food Trends 2020- Ditching Fine Dining

Something slightly surprising that they indicted during the panel discussion is the move away from fine dining. This is attributed to the advent of take away services like Deliveroo.

Panel members felt that the millennial generation’s casual approach to urgent requests has created a cultural shift toward a food trend of delivery items being the norm for dinner. This means they have less attention for fancier food and prefer to avoid the fuss and eat good, fast.

Top Food Trends 2020- The New Favourite

While all these predicted food trends fold in to a healthier package, there is one prediction that doesn’t fit in this eco-lifestyle box- Filopino cuisine.

One panel member indicated that one of the last treasures Anthony Bourdain left behind was the declaration that Filipino food is the ‘food of the world’. This was based on his experience with sisig, a dish from the Philippines. It is a local street food dish made from chopped parts of a pig.

Bourdain told CNN Philippines that the sizzling, crispy pork dish is “perfectly positioned to win the hearts and minds of the world as a whole.

“I think it’s the most likely to convince people abroad who have had no exposure to Filipino food to maybe look further and investigate further beyond sisig,” he said.

“I think that’s the one that’s gonna hook them.”

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Top Food Trends 2020- Final Thoughts

What do you think, Sunny friends? Have you tried sisig or any other Filipino dishes? Do you think you will be following any of these top food trends for 2020? Or maybe you already are living healthy and the food trends mentioned in the video are part of your everyday lifestyle?

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Other articles and Sunny News YouTube videos about Food and London:

Waterfront Pub London Review

While there are many popular pubs in London by the river Thames, not all of them can boast about a swanky refurbishment. To beat the heat this week, Mr Sunny and I ventured to Wandsworth to see the Waterfront Pub’s new look, and we really enjoyed our afternoon there.

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It’s fair to say that if you are looking for a huge outdoor terrace to enjoy a cocktail, pint and live music, you don’t want to miss an experience at Waterfront Pub. This is especially true if you want to avoid the Central London crowds.

Keep in mind as you are reading that we visited the Waterfront Pub on a Monday nearly minutes after they opened. This is my preference when invited for a review because I can freely take photos without disturbing anyone. I can imagine that with this beautiful terrace, the Waterfront Pub gets pretty packed with locals on evenings and weekends.

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We don’t get to the Battersea area often because we live in North London. Young’s Pubs tend to be located mostly south of the river Thames. However, I do associate all of my Young’s Pubs experiences at their gastropubs with a colourful, airy decor and fantastic food. Our lunch at Waterfront Pub met this expectation.

Waterfront Pub London Review- Atmosphere

Visiting during a July heatwave meant we wanted a refreshing, relaxed atmosphere. The rich colour palette of the new upholstery was inviting, but we chose to eat outside. I can imagine this pub would be quite cosy during the winter. They might have trouble getting the locals to leave with this setup!

We also appreciated the ample space available to film a YouTube video about Riverside Pubs (with the Waterfront as the star, of course!) while we were there. In fact, when I was researching the Waterfront Pub before our visit, I was really impressed with the views and decor in the photos. I asked if I could film several Sunny News videos at the pub during our visit to maximise the opportunity in such a picturesque place.

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Waterfront Pub London Review- Food

Overall, we feel the food at Waterfront Pub is the most photogenic we have ever seen in London. Maybe it was the sun? Maybe it was the great space to film? Take a look at the video to see what I mean…

For Starters, Mr Sunny ordered the Grilled King Prawns, wild garlic and sourdough toast. I had the cauliflower with avocado mayo and beet dressing.

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From the Mains, Mr Sunny loved the short rib of beef, harissa yoghurt, red slaw and sorrel gremolata. I watched the meat melted off the bone while he ate, and it wasn’t because of the heat outside, Sunny friends! He felt it was cooked perfectly.

The Young’s beer-battered cod with triple-cooked chips, mushy peas and tartare sauce was a delight! Foremost, it was the biggest piece of cod I have ever seen on a plate in London. To say it produced one hell of a panning shot in the video would be pretty punny. But- no joke- you should watch the video just to see the length of this thing!

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And, needless to say, the taste didn’t disappoint. I will spare you the shot of my empty plate because the carnage wasn’t Insta-worthy. But what finished fish ever is?

Waterfront Pub London Review- Final Thoughts

Our service and overall experience at Waterfront Pub London gets two thumbs up. We were a bit jealous of the locals in the surrounding area because the gastropub seems to tick all the boxes for people who seek space, good food and a great ambience. If we lived closer, I am sure we would pop in more often. It would be great to see the vibe at night.

They also had a huge ‘Gintastic’ festival there in July that I am guessing was really cool. If you live near the pub, I think it would be a good idea to keep an eye on their events, especially when it’s HOT in London!

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Subscribe to the Sunny in London weekly email and immediately get the ‘Local’s Pocket Restaurant Guide to London.’ It’s the ultimate free travel accessory for your London trip. The Guide has top recommended restaurants from a local, organised by neighbourhood. With it you can easily find a place to eat when you’re on a London street. Downloading the file to your phone means skipping Wi-fi and finding a fab foodie place- fast!

Cooking Tips for Making a Full English Breakfast

Warning: if you don’t know what a Full English Breakfast is and you aren’t a fan of grease start to your day, look away!

This blog post is a contribution from my English husband, Mr Sunny, and he doesn’t hold back when it comes to cooking a proper English fry up in the morning. As foodie travellers, we love exploring local cuisine and often we try to replicate the recipes when we return. We bought waffle mixture after visiting Brussels, as well ravioli cutters, pasta dyed with squid ink and balsamic vinegar at Eataly while we were in Bologna.

However, it’s understandable that eating traditional English food is a majority of our life at home in London. Having enjoyed Mr Sunny’s full English breakfast on countless occasions, I thought it well overdue to share it with you on this foodie blog. If you’re American, you will find a few similarities to our traditional American diner breakfast. However, keep reading to see what’s different when you are eating a Full English Breakfast in London cooked by a proper Londoner.

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Full English Breakfast- Key Ingredients

A traditional full English breakfast means a morning plate served with sausage, bacon, eggs, tomatoes, mushrooms, black pudding, beans, and fried bread. You will probably want to accompany it with ketchup or brown sauce too. You can also incorporate different types of bagels in your breakfast if you’re fond of them, which, unfortunately, Mr Sunny is not.

With regard to selecting ingredients, Mr Sunny has some key advice for your English fry up.

  • Purchase good quality ingredients. For example, visit your local butcher for sausage that is preferably a high meat content. Mr Sunny suggests plain pork, not Cumberland, Lincolnshire or pork and apple sausage.
  • Be generous with the vegetable oil and under no circumstances should you substitute it with olive oil. His direct quote is, ‘Olive oil makes eggs go green and tastes like sh*t.’
  • While you can get ‘streaky bacon’ in the UK, nearly every Full English Breakfast uses back bacon. He doesn’t used smoked, but he feels it depends on your taste preference.

Full English Breakfast- What You Need

You can see a big list of my foodie product recommendations on Amazon UK. For this recipe we suggest the items below.

You can also find the splatter screens and anti-fatigue mats on Amazon.com in the US.

Full English Breakfast- Cooking Tips and Order

We aren’t going to share a direct recipe with you, because a traditional Full English Breakfast only requires basic cooking skills. Plan 25-30 minutes cooking time This is really the time it takes to cook the sausage, so you’ll want to start with that first.

You could probably get away with one pan. But, if you want to make it exactly like Mr Sunny, he suggests two frying pans. The smaller one is for the fried bread and eggs.

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Here is the order for a successful English fry up.

  • Put a decent amount of vegetable oil in the large frying pan on medium heat and add your sausage links.
  • Next, place the black pudding in the same pan.
  • After 5 minutes, it should be time to put in the bacon.
  • While Mr Sunny is letting this food fry, he cuts mushrooms evenly. His preference is button or close cup.
  • With regard to a tomato, he chops it in halves and then cuts a cross on the rounded side with skin so they cook evenly. He also sprinkles them with salt before cooking.
  • In the smaller frying pan, Mr Sunny adds a generous amount of vegetable oil on medium heat. As you fry the bread, don’t be afraid to add more oil because the bread absorbs it. Because I was interrupting him a million times for video and still shots the day we cooked the one shown in the post, his bread ended up a little too fried.
  • After you remove the bread, you probably need to add more oil because again the bread will have soaked up most of it.
  • Crack the eggs and add them to the pan. You should move them around so they don’t stick to the pan. His bonus frying eggs tip is to use a teaspoon to flick oil an to the top of the eggs so you don’t get the ‘snotty’ bits. (I know every American just cringed at the sight of the word ‘snotty’ but that is the word they use here.)
  • Finally, Mr Sunny removes the food items from the pans and puts them on paper towels to remove excess grease before serving.
  • In our breakfast the day we filmed he didn’t include beans. But, if you want to make beans, you can remove them from the can and splash them with a dash of black pepper and Worcestershire sauce. He zaps them in the microwave for 45 seconds to 1 minute, gives them a quick stir and throws them back in for another 15-20 seconds.
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Full English Breakfast- When Do English People Eat It?

Mr Sunny and generations of his family were born and bred in London. He says that the Full English Breakfast was more of a staple breakfast in the 50’s-60’s. To him, it seems like now this type of breakfast is reserved for lazy weekend mornings or holidays. But, he said if you go to your local caf in the morning, it’s common to see builders enjoying a hefty Full English Breakfast on a weekday.

If you visit London, you will likely have this option for breakfast at your hotel. If you holiday in Europe, you might see a Full English Breakfast on the menu. But, the standard European continental breakfast is different. As you can see in images from our Brussels hotel and Nice hotel in France, it features a selection of cold meats and cheeses, fresh fruit and pastries.

Hotel Metropole Brussels Review
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Full English Breakfast- Final Thoughts

If you would like to see a Full English Breakfast in the making, you can watch Mr Sunny cooking it below. We also go through tons of differences between an American breakfast and a British breakfast.

So if all that grease didn’t put you off and you made it to the end of this foodie blog post, what do you think of the Full English Breakfast? If you are English, is there anything you can suggest with regard to cooking tips? Do you do anything differently when making your Full English breakfast?

Americans, did you notice what was missing from the traditional English breakfast compared to what you find in America?

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As part of the welcome, you will also receive several other free downloads, plus a weekly edition of the hottest happenings in London.

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7 Great Vodka Cocktail Recipes for You To Try

This summer seemed a little slow in appearing, but it looks as though it has finally arrived. When the sun comes out, it can only mean one thing; it’s time for cocktails, Sunny friends!

We’re going to look at a few great cocktail choices that you can make with the most versatile of spirits: vodka. 

Whether you’re having some friends round for a barbecue, hosting a party, or just taking it easy on a sun lounger in your back garden. These vodka cocktails are as refreshing as they are cheeky.

Appletini

Formerly known as the Adam’s Apple, after the bartender who invented it, the Appletini is a simple, modern classic. Mix equal measures of vodka and cloudy apple juice together, add in some maple syrup, lemon juice and crushed ice. Shake well, then serve. Garnish with a slice of lemon.

Bloody Mary

A classic cocktail, which is essential for any discerning vodka drinkers repertoire. You can play around with the recipe to give it a bit of extra kick if you like. Mix two parts vodka with four parts tomato juice. Then add four dashes of Worcestershire sauce and four of tabasco sauce.  Throw in a bit of lemon juice, salt and pepper. Shake well with crushed ice, serve and garnish with celery. 

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Cosmopolitan

Versions of the Cosmo have been floating around for decades. Versions of it were possibly drunk as early as the 1930s. It’s so tasty; it’ll never go out of style. To make it, take 50ml of lemon vodka, mix with a dash of orange liqueur (use triple sec), a dash of lime juice and 50mls of cranberry juice. Add crushed ice. Shake, and then serve.

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Moscow Mule

Traditionally served in a copper cup, the Moscow mule is sometimes known as a Vodka Buck. Mix 9 parts ginger beer with one part vodka, add a dash of lime. Shake, and then serve garnished with a wedge of lime. 

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Screwdriver

An all-time classic cocktail, the screwdriver is another that has likely been drunk since the 1930s. It’s ridiculously simple to make, as it has just two ingredients. Mix two parts vodka, with four parts orange juice. Throw in some crushed ice. Shake, and then serve. Couldn’t be simpler. If you’re up for a more interesting variation and have some Galiano knocking around, throw a measure of that in too, and you’ll have yourself a Harvey Wallbanger. 

Woo Woo

The party time cocktail, Woo Woo is quite refreshing on a hot summer’s day. Mix two parts vodka, one part peach schnapps and four parts cranberry juice. Mix with ice, shake. Then serve in a high ball glass, with a garnish of lime. 

Sex on the Beach

First made in Florida in the 1980s, sex on the beach became popular with the rise of peach schnapps. Very similar to the Woo Woo, only add orange juice too. It was my favourite cocktail when I was at Florida State University.

If you want a kick from your cocktail though, try the Sex On Fire variation by adding Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.

This is a contributed post on Sunny in London.

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PUBS IN LONDON

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